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AdvoCare International Announces the Promotion of Brett Blake as New CEO

Press Release | 3/10/2018

DALLAS, March 9, 2018 -- AdvoCare International, L.P. today announced the promotion of Brett Blake to Chief Executive Officer, replacing industry-veteran Brian Connolly who served as interim-CEO during the extensive executive search. Connolly will continue to work closely with Brett serving as Executive Chairman of the Board.

Blake, who was hired in October to serve as President of Global Sales and Strategic Planning has demonstrated his commitment to the AdvoCare Brand and the 600,000 Independent Distributors and Preferred Customers. Brett will continue to serve those functions in addition to the added responsibility of CEO. When asked to comment, Blake said "I am grateful for the confidence the Ragus family, Brian Connolly and the Board of Directors has in me. I am so impressed with the caliber of people associated with AdvoCare and am looking forward to leading this company to even greater success as we look to secure our business in the U.S. and expand globally."

Blake will continue to oversee global sales and strategic planning in his new role as CEO. Prior to joining AdvoCare Blake served as CEO of Origami Owl Family of Brands, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Beachbody - where he also sat on the Board - and other management roles at Melaleuca, USANA Health Sciences, and PepsiCo.

"Brett's deep expertise in direct sales and leading successful businesses paired with his passion for the Distributors and customers made him the best choice to lead AdvoCare into the future," says Debbie Ragus Cook - eldest daughter of AdvoCare Founder Charles E. Ragus and member of the Board of Directors. "We are also so grateful to Brian Connolly for his immeasurable contributions to AdvoCare over the last two and a half years and are excited he will stay engaged through his role on the Board."

Blake will assume his new role on April 1, with a commitment to the legacy of AdvoCare - building a community of "Advocates who Care."

AdvoCare Announces Official Sports Nutrition Partnership with MLS

Press Release | 1/11/2015

PLANO, Texas and NEW YORK (January 8, 2015) – AdvoCare International, LP (AdvoCare), a premier health and wellness company, today announced a multiyear partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS) to be the league’s Official Sports Nutrition Partner. This new relationship is the largest sports partnership and the first League partnership for AdvoCare, as the company further establishes itself as a leader in the Sports Nutrition space.

The sponsorship is effective beginning the 2015 MLS season and extends through the 2019 season. As part of the agreement, AdvoCare Rehydrate will be the Official Sports Drink of Major League Soccer and will be featured on the sidelines of MLS games. Part of the AdvoCare Active Line, Rehydrate provides the necessary nutrients to maintain proper metabolism, delay the onset of fatigue, and hydrate the body by re-establishing electrolyte balance.

"We are proud to be the official sports nutrition partner of Major League Soccer," said Richard Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of AdvoCare. "This is an incredible opportunity to share the AdvoCare vision of physical wellness with dedicated soccer fans across the nation. Soccer is a rapidly growing sport in North America and our partnership with MLS makes perfect sense as we continue to grow together.”

In the coming weeks, AdvoCare will be announcing individual MLS club partnerships that will integrate AdvoCare products into teams’ locker rooms and development teams. Building relationships at the local club level will bring the AdvoCare name to soccer fields across the country, as well as into millions of homes as fans tune in to watch each season.

In October, AdvoCare announced an extension of its partnership with FC Dallas through the 2020 season. The company was originally announced as FC Dallas’ first jersey sponsor in 2012 and the extension includes plans for FC Dallas to unveil a new away kit in 2015 and a new home kit in 2016. In addition, AdvoCare will continue to have a major presence throughout Toyota Stadium and Toyota Soccer Center, as well as keeping the AdvoCare logo on FC Dallas Academy and youth jerseys.

“AdvoCare is a dynamic growth company that is excited about becoming an active partner of Major League Soccer,” said Gary Stevenson, President and Managing Director of MLS Business Ventures. “We took notice of the successful partnership that AdvoCare has developed with FC Dallas and we look forward to that happening at the League level and with a number of our clubs.”

AdvoCare will continue its long-standing relationship with the athletic community and, through its strategic alliance with Informed-Choice, certifies products that carry the Informed-Choice logo, including Rehydrate, are banned-substance free.

AdvoCare Donates to Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

Press Release | 12/3/2013

Winston-Salem, N.C, December 03, 2013 -- AdvoCare International, LP (AdvoCare), a leading health and wellness company, is donating $35,000 to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma based on the performance of Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet. The Childress Institute’s goal is to prevent the death of seriously injured children by funding research, education and awareness to improve treatment.

“Nearly 10,000 kids die every year from life-threatening injuries – more than all other causes combined,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing and co-founder of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. “It’s the number one killer of children in America, and it can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. We appreciate AdvoCare’s support and their commitment to helping raise awareness and funds for the care of injured children throughout the season.”

AdvoCare pledged $5,000 for every win, $2,000 for every top five finish and $1,000 for every top 10 finish Dillon had throughout the 2013 Nationwide Series. In appreciation of the Childress Institute’s mission and AdvoCare’s contribution, Dillon and the No. 3 AdvoCare racing team visited children at several hospitals across the U.S. during the race season, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Children's Hospital of Richmond (Va.) at VCU.

Fans can help save the lives of injured children by making their own contribution to the Childress Institute in two ways: join the Childress Champions by donating $33 in honor of Dillon at InjuredKids.org or visit NASCAR.com/foundation to bid on the Childress Institute’s holiday auction. The auction features a variety of autographed memorabilia including race-used autographed sheet metal and other items from RCR.

"AdvoCare is proud to support the research and awareness The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma facilitates. Austin had a great season, and we are excited about what this contribution means to the organization,” said Mike Vaught, AdvoCare Director of Sponsorships.

PLANO, Texas – AdvoCare International, LP (AdvoCare), a leading health and wellness company, today announced it will donate to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma based on the performance of Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon, pilot of the No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet. The Childress Institute invests resources in research, education and awareness to improve the treatment for critically injured children in the U.S.

AdvoCare is pledging $5,000 for every win, $2,000 for every top five finish and $1,000 for every top 10 finish Dillon has throughout the 2013 Nationwide Series. A check for the total donation will be presented to RCR team owner and Childress Institute co-founder Richard Childress during the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint™ Cup Series Race on November 10, 2013 at Phoenix International Raceway.

“Nearly 10,000 kids die every year from life-threatening injuries – more than all other causes combined,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing and co-founder of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. “It’s the number one killer of children in America, and it can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. We are grateful for the powerful teaming of Austin and AdvoCare to help raise money and awareness for this national problem.”

Race fans can follow Dillon’s progress and AdvoCare’s commitment throughout the year by visiting Dillon’s website – www.austindillon.com. Fans can help save the lives of injured children by making their own contribution to the Childress Institute in two ways: donate $33 in honor of Dillon via his website, or text WIN to 80077 for a $10 donation. When prompted reply YES (see terms below).

“The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma is an organization close to the heart of AdvoCare and one that’s essential to furthering pediatric trauma research for severely injured children,” said Richard Wright, AdvoCare President and CEO. “We are proud to support the research and awareness the Institute facilitates, and hope our contribution can help their mission continue in the future.”

In appreciation of the Childress Institute’s mission and AdvoCare’s contribution, Dillon and the No. 3 AdvoCare racing team plan to visit injured children in several hospitals across the U.S. throughout the 2013 race season.

Advocare Challenges Banned Substance Claim

Press Release | 10/31/2011

DALLAS--With the London Olympics less than 300 days away, athletes and companies like AdvoCare, a premier health and wellness company based in Dallas, are expecting the strictest anti-doping policies ever implemented in high-level competition. AdvoCare has prepared for the challenge by investing in extensive product testing to ensure its products are free of banned, performance enhancing substances and maintain their excellent reputation in the amateur and professional athletic communities.

There have been nine Olympic Games and many AdvoCare product-using competitors since the company was founded and only one athlete has ever claimed AdvoCare products contained a banned substance. This allegation by swimmer Jessica Hardy prompted AdvoCare to proactively seek a legal ruling to protect its reputation. This month a California Federal District Court will hear motions filed by AdvoCare to dismiss the claims filed by Ms. Hardy on the grounds the analytical testing she is relying on is invalid and unreliable.

“There is no scientific basis for Hardy's claims against the company, and AdvoCare is asking the court to enter judgment in its favor on all of the claims asserted by Hardy,” said Allison Levy, general counsel for AdvoCare. “Subsequent to these allegations AdvoCare has had independent testing performed on each and every lot of product provided to Jessica Hardy and has demonstrated that every lot was free of banned substances. Furthermore, we are confident that this case will prove to be unfounded.”

In order to further guarantee the safety of its products, AdvoCare has fortified its products' safety with an additional layer of checks and balances by participating in the INFORMED-CHOICE certification program – an independent quality assurance program for sports nutrition products. AdvoCare voluntarily and proactively has its entire Performance Elite line, and many other products, tested to certify the products are banned-substance free. By making this investment in the INFORMED-CHOICE alliance, AdvoCare has been able to attract, retain and help many athlete endorsers excel in their sports, and do so with confidence in their nutritional supplement choice.

AdvoCare Launches AdvoBus Tour

Reuters | 9/6/2009

Health and Wellness Organization Promotes AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl at
NCAA Football Games across the United States
DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
AdvoCare, a premiere health and wellness company in Dallas, is traveling across the country this college football season on the AdvoBus Independence Tour to build support for its sponsorship of the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl.

The AdvoCareAdvoBus will make appearances at select NCAA football games every Saturday leading up to the Independence Bowl in December to promote healthy
living and overall wellness. The tour debuts at Husky Stadium on September 5, in Seattle, Wash., where Louisiana State University takes on the University of Washington. It concludes on December 28, at the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., with a matchup between the SEC and Big 12.

Jury Awards Million Dollar Verdict Against Advocare

A Dallas jury has awarded a $1.9 million verdict against AdvoCare International L.P., a Carrollton, Texas-based multi-level marketer and supplier of nutritional supplements and skincare products. Following a two-week trial in Dallas County’s 191st District Court, jurors found that the company violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by engaging in an unconscionable action by canceling agreements with distributors Bruce and Teresa Badgett of Arlington.

With its decision Monday, the panel shortened Hardy's competition ban to one year, from two.

Carrollton-based AdvoCare said Tuesday in a statement that the panel's finding "is in direct conflict" with "independent" testing that showed Hardy's supplements to be free of contaminants. Also, the company said, the arbitration process was "severely flawed," in part because AdvoCare was not allowed to participate or even attend.

Howard Jacobs, Hardy's attorney, said in a statement that the arbitrators were correct in not allowing AdvoCare into the process and that the scientific evidence presented by his client at the hearing "was fully vetted through vigorous cross-examination."

According to a copy of the arbitration panel's report posted on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's Web site, "miniscule quantities" of clenbuterol, a banned substance, were found in one of the AdvoCare supplements, Arginine Extreme. Supplements from the same lots Hardy used were tested at the swimmer's request.

Advocare Kicks off Women’s Pro Soccer Sponsorship

Npros.com | 4/26/2009

Carrollton, TX & San Francisco, CA (April 22, 2009) – AdvoCare International, LP, is proud to announce its relationship with Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) as a founding partner and provider of Rehydrate Electrolyte Replacement Drink, the league’s official isotonic beverage.

The deal makes Rehydrate available to players on and off the field, and includes a variety of branding opportunities, on-field signage, plus a sponsored award at the end of the season.

AdvoCare is known for providing the very best in sports nutrition,” said Director of Endorsements Rob Graf. “We have long-term relationships with elite athletes representing almost every sport. This partnership is a perfect fit and we look forward to supporting WPS while reinforcing the AdvoCare brand as a leader in health and wellness products.”

Rehydrate is a top-selling AdvoCare product used by the majority of the 75 world-class endorsers who trust and rely on the products as part of their daily routine. Rehydrate is also one of the many AdvoCare products certified as banned-substance free in accordance with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Advocare and Jessica Hardy File Lawsuits

SwimmingWorldMagazine.com | 2/2/2009

JESSICA Hardy, who tested positive during last summer's U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming for a banned substance, has filed suit against a Texas-based supplement maker, claiming products that it had made and she had taken were tainted.

Hardy, who tested positive at the Trials for the banned stimulant clenbuterol, filed the lawsuit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court against Carrollton, Texas-based AdvoCare International, seeking unspecified damages. UniversalSports.com on Thursday obtained a copy of the lawsuit.

The 21-year-old Hardy would have been a medal contender in Beijing in two individual events as well as in at least one, maybe two, relays. Instead, as the lawsuit relates, she stayed home, hit with a two-year doping-related suspension, deprived of "once-in-a-lifetime opportunities" while weighing "damage to her reputation."

AdvoCare SPARK Energy Drink in the News

Destination CRM | 8/23/2006

Today, energy beverages represent a $3.5 million industry that is continuing to grow at a fervent pace (up 75 percent since 2005). With high revenues coming in, it would follow that marketers look to every channel of expansion. The development of enterprise marketing software has made it easier for companies to direct their targeted efforts more accurately.

But has the increase in marketing effectiveness paved the way for a decrease in corporate responsibility? Now regularly appearing in lunch boxes and littering middle school soccer fields, Red Bull's six-inch-tall blue cans have sparked a debate over this and other such energy drinks' adverse health and well-being effects. Health experts are reviewing the potential consequences of these products on adults, but marketers continue to target an increasingly younger demographic with the drinks. Most noticeably, AdvoCare, manufacturer of the energy drink SPARK, last fall rolled out KickStart SPARK, a spinoff of the adult version aimed at children four and over. It contains 60 mg of caffeine (about half a cup of coffee) as well as 200 mg of taurine and 100 mg of gamma-aminobutyric acid, both nonregulated supplements.